As operations manager for the Ocean Observatories Initiative Endurance Array for the last 8 years, Tom participated in all aspects of building the OOI. The Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) is funded by the National Science Foundation to provide a networked system of instruments to measure physical, chemical, geological, and biological properties in the ocean, the atmosphere, and on the seafloor. The OOI operates and integrates data from 800 instruments deployed around the world in 6 observatory arrays. As Operations and Maintenance manager for the Endurance Array, Tom was a key contributor in developing the O&M structure and organization that continues to operate the OOI. Tom's passion for ocean research started before the OOI. After 20 years as a project manager for Nike, Oracle Consulting and Standard Insurance he obtained his master degree in Oceanography in 2009. During his tenure with OOI, Tom's employers have included Consortium for Ocean Leadership in DC, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, University of California San Diego and Oregon State University. Tom continues to participate in the OOI daily operations and is responsible for the Endurance Array O&M budgets, procurement, logistics, asset management and instrument refurbishment.

About the Series

The Marine Biology and Conservation Lecture Series is a joint effort between Thomas More College, the WAVE Foundation at the Newport Aquarium to address and promote critical issues in the fields of marine biology and conservation. Speakers will include scientists, naturalists, educators and other professionals working in related areas. The lectures will focus on a variety of topics and are geared towards the general public and students of all ages.

For more information, contact Dan Dunlap, Director of Education WAVE Foundation or Chris Lorentz, Professor of Biology Thomas More College.

Previous Speakers

Dr. Wallace "J." Nichols is a scientist, wild water advocate, movement—maker, New York Times bestselling author, and dad. His research and expeditions have taken him to coasts and waterways across North, Central and South America, to Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe. This is what keeps his colleagues and collaborators working hard to understand and restore our blue planet. J. is a Research Associate at California Academy of Sciences and co—founder of Ocean Revolution, an international network of young ocean advocates, SEE the WILD, a conservation travel network, Grupo Tortuguero, an international sea turtle conservation network, and Blue Mind Fund, reconnecting people to water. He has authored and co—authored more than 200 scientific papers, articles and reports and his work has been broadcast on NPR, BBC, PBS, CBS This Morning, Discover Channel, National Geographic and Animal Planet as well as featured in Time, Newsweek, GQ, Outside Magazine, Fast Company, Scientific American and New Scientist, among others.

As a physiological and behavioral ecologist, Dr. Gitte McDonald investigates adaptations that allow animals to survive in extreme environments. Marine mammals and birds provide an ideal study system to investigate how animals deal with extreme conditions because of their large size variation, geographic distribution and physiological challenges they face on a daily basis including hypoxia, extreme temperatures, and fasting. Understanding the mechanisms that allow an organism to interact and survive in its environment is crucial for predicting, and potentially mitigating, their response to climate change. Currently her research program focuses on two broad areas of research: 1) determining the diving capacity of breath-hold divers and understanding the underlying mechanisms, and 2) determining the energetic requirements of foraging and reproduction to better understand energy allocation, physiological trade-offs, and the organism’s role in the ecosystem. To address these questions, she uses state-of-the-art biologgers that measure fine scale diving behavior and physiological variables (heart rate and oxygen), in addition to providing information about the environment. Her research has provided opportunities to work with a broad range of species in a diversity of habitats from the Antarctic to the Galapagos.

Dr. David E. Guggenheim is a marine scientist, conservation policy specialist, submarine pilot, ocean explorer and educator. Guggenheim holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Public Policy from George Mason University in Virginia, a Master’s in Aquatic and Population Biology from University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master’s in Regional Science and Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. As an interesting fact, this explorer has piloted the first-ever manned submersible dives into the world’s largest underwater canyons in the Bering Sea as a scientific advisor to Greenpeace.

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When he is not exploring, Dr. Guggenheim is also working to advance cutting-edge technologies for sustainable aquaculture practices to the Americas to reduce pressure on overfished wild fish stocks. Following the tragic BP Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Dr. Guggenheim has led efforts on a key recovery project in New Orleans East, the Viet Village Urban Farm Sustainable Aquaculture Park, a next-generation fish farming facility designed to grow fish sustainably while taking pressure off of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem during its long recovery.

On the social media front, Dr. Guggenheim hosts “The Ocean Doctor Radio Show and Expedition Casts” podcast series, playing a key role in public outreach and education about the oceans. He makes frequent speaking and television and radio appearances, having recently appeared on 60 MINUTES, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, MSNBC, and NPR.

Dr. Guggenheim holds a strong commitment to environmental education and is currently engaged in Ocean Doctor’s 50 Years - 50 States - 50 Speeches Expedition to all fifty U.S. states, visiting schools and bringing special programs about ocean exploration and conservation to young students. So far he has traveled more than 37,000 miles, visited 17 states, 1 U.S. territory, made more than 55 speeches and reached more than 15,000 students in schools ranging from the northernmost community in North America, Barrow, Alaska, to Macksville, Kansas, close to the geographic center of the lower 48 states, to the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Craig O’Connell completed his PhD at the University of Massachusetts studying the effects of magnets on the feeding and swimming behaviors of four shark species; tiger, bull, great white, and hammerhead. During 2014 Shark Week, Dr. O’Connell was on the Discovery Channel talking about his research with hammerhead electro sensitivity.

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In 2013 Dr. O’Connell founded the O’Seas Conservation Foundation in New York and is the director of the foundation. This foundation works to conduct conservation focused research involving elasmobranch species in the local coastal waters as well as educate and inspire local youth through hands-on experience and education.

Dr. O’Connell’s presentation will include details about his research in shark electrosensitivity with project details, findings, and photos. He will also be discussing his recent projects with the O’Seas Conservation Foundation and their work in their community. WAVE Foundation has funded Dr. O’Connell’s research in the past and we look forward to working with him again in the future.

Dr. Lucy Hawkes is a physiological ecologist, whose work focuses on the costs and drivers of migration in vertebrates using emergent technologists such as satellite telemetry, heart rate logging, accelerometry, and metabolic rate measurements. She uses technical approaches including spatial ecology, remote sensing and respirometry to make empirical measurements that help in the understanding of extensive migratory performances. Her work has also researched the impact of external forcing factors, such as climate change and disease ecology on migration and breeding ecology. Notably she is also a member of the Marine Turtle Research group.

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As stated above, Dr. Hawkes research centers on animal migration. Since animals experience extremes of both their external environment and internal physiology, animal migration is an ideal opportunity to look at the fundamental biology of many organisms. Adaptations that maximize migratory success must be selected for in order for migrants to arrive at their breeding grounds in timely fashion and in adequate body condition for breeding.

Dr. Hawkes’ research uses emergent technologies known as “Biologging,” the logging of biology on the move, to track animal migrations in the wild and lab-based work to contextualize this work with theoretical and empirical modeling and data. Taken together, this approach can provide unparalleled insights into some of the world’s most exciting migrations, such as those patterns found in many marine turtles and migratory birds. The WAVE Foundation is has partnered with Dr. Hawkes in the past and we look forward to continuing our great relationship with her.